MD WAMC: Non-trad reapplicant 514/3.0 predicament

[aspiringdoc134]

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Hi everyone, I’m a non-traditional MD-only reapplicant with a good MCAT and low GPA. I have 2 MD, 1 PhD LORs from my paid clinical jobs (all strong). I‘m in a predicament given the current climate - I have a tentative offer for a vascular surgery RA position (w/publication opportunities), which requires a 2 year commitment. I was planning to apply to schools this cycle (just took the MCAT, so score expiration isn’t an issue), but this position offers an upside that would strengthen my application (pub, additional LOR, different clinical experience, and possibly additional upper-lvl courses). Given my stats/story below, what would you recommend applying this cycle or taking the new job? Your input is much appreciated! Please let me know if any additional info is needed.

1. cGPA/sGPA: 3.0/2.91 (overall), 3.67 (postbac - 10.5 credits). My postbacc classes have been upper level science courses (biochem, mitochondrial dysfunction, cell bio w/lab)
2. MCAT: 514 (128/128/129/129) - most recent. 513 (129/126/128/130) in 2017. The latter score would’ve been expired at a lot schools for this cycle.
3. State of residence: NY
4. Ethnicity and/or race: ORM/Asian
5. Undergraduate institution or category: Top 40
6. Clinical experience (volunteer and non-volunteer): 4+ years as a clinical research coordinator (full-time paid), research aide in geriatrics (full-time paid) - both at a big academic institution
7. Research experience and productivity: 6+ years, no publications. I primarily oversaw industry-sponsored studies in my last position
8. Shadowing experience and specialties represented: 100+ hours in neuro-oncology, 20+ hours in interventional radiology
9. Non-clinical volunteering: 150 hours in mentoring underserved high school student (ended a few years ago)
10. Other extracurricular activities: I’m more than 6 years out of undergrad and have spent that time literally immersing myself in clinical research. I’ve been fascinated by the brain since I was a child and my last position gave me invaluable insight into the profession and day-to-day activities. I’ve had range of clinical, regulatory, and administrative roles that have allowed me to display my abilities and also gain great insight into academic medicine and biotechnology. Unfortunately, I have 0 publications (due to a lack of opportunities). On a personal note, I’ve also been helping out with my parents who have struggled financially throughout my life - my stepfather is now living off of disability after his latest bout of diabetic retinopathy and my mother is currently unemployed.
11. I’m also trilingual - English, Spanish + another language (actually fluent)

While I’m not exactly in a rush to get into medical school, I’m anxious to get started given the competitive career paths that I have in mind (aside from my age).

 

[Mr.Smile12]

I'd start asking around with admissions recruiters at the schools about their comfort level with you being out of a classroom for so long. Six years, including your postbac coursework or since you finished undergrad?

 

[aspiringdoc134]

I'd start asking around with admissions recruiters at the schools about their comfort level with you being out of a classroom for so long. Six years, including your postbac coursework or since you finished undergrad?

since I finished undergrad. will edit my post to clarify this. I took cell bio w/lab last spring semester

 

[Faha]

Your sGPA is below 3.0 which will result in being screened out at many schools. You would benefit from another year of a DIY post bacc at a local college where you take enough undergraduate level science courses to raise your sGPA to 3.0 . Even at that point the GPA-MCAT grid shows you have only a 1/3 chance for a MD acceptance. You will need to apply broadly to DO schools also.